Gas producer



J. D. THOMAS GAS PRODUCER Jan. 30, 1934.

Filed April 11, 1933 am, JESSE 1). THOMAS WWK Patented Jan. 30, 1934 aUNITED STATES PATENT FFHE GAS PRODUCER Jesse D. Thomas, St. Petersburg,Fla.

Application April 11, 1933. Serial No. 665,597

3 Claims. (Cl. 261-77) This invention relates to gas producers of thethe tank 1 by means of a compressor 2 run by a air and liquid contacttype and it proposes the motor 3. A pressure actuated switch 4,diagramprovision of a carburetting device for making gas niaticallyshown and forming no part of the from any commercial grade of gasoline,for heatpresent invention interrupts the motor circuit 5 ing, lightingand general household purposes. when the desired pressure has beenattained in One of the objects of the invention is the prothe tank 1.vision of means for maintaining a recurrent cir- The air under pressureis led by way of a conculation of gasoline from a reservoir through aduit 5 to the carburetting unit which in general mixing chamber, and thebringing of air by a is designated by the reference character 6. The

circuitous route into successive contacts with air serves as the mediumto be carburetted as successive surface portions of the circulating Wellas the motive power by means of which the gasoline within said mixingchamber, for carfunctions of the carburetting unit are carried burettingsaid air. out.

Another object of the invention is to provide The carburetting unit 6comprises in its prea venturi as the liquid fuel circulation means,ferred form, a two storied tank constituting the 70 at the bottom of acolumn of the circulating lower reservoir '7 which may be filled withraw liquid, and fed with air under pressure, entraingasoline through thefitting 8. The upper part of ing air in said column and increasing theflow the unit 6 comprises a mixing chamber 9 having velocity of thegasoline through said column to the bottom wall 10, the same functioningas a parthe extent that the liquid particles separate, pertition betweenthe two parts of the carburetting 75 mitting expansion of the air insaid column and unit. The bottom 10 is preferably level. It isincreasing its surface presentation to the liquid provided with anoverflow into the tank 7 by fuel. way of a nipple 11 up-standing forabout an inch A further object of the invention is to provide above thebottom wall 10 so as to impound a for the avoidance of stagnant fuelbodies in the shallow body of gasoline in the mixing chamber mixingchamber which, once deprived of their which is constantly changing,being part of the volatile fractions, might thereafter remain inertliquid circulation system about to be described. as to theircarburetting function, reducing the A stand pipe 10 affordscommunication becapacity of the machine. tween the bottom of thereservoir by means of 30 Still another object of the invention is toprothe venturi fitting l2, and with the upper part 85 vide bafiles,preferably wick-lined dipping into .of the mixing chamber by means ofthe spout the surface of the circulating gasoline within 13 which islocated at the opposite end of the said mixing chamber, and determiningthe labymixing chamber from the overflow nipple 11. rinthine course ofthe air being carburetted, said Compressed air from the tank 1 issupplied to bafiies being so arranged that passage is mainthe venturi 14by a branch pipe 24 and issues tained for the flow of liquid fuel alongthe bottom from the nozzle 14 of the venturi in the form of said mixingchamber from the inlet to the of a jet which aerates the column ofliquid discharge end thereof. in the stand pipe, throwing a jet ofcommingled Other objects of the invention will appear as air andgasoline from the spout 13 into the 40 the following description of apreferred and mixing chamber. Theliquid constituent of this 95 practicalembodiment thereof proceeds. aerated column falls to the shallow body ofgaso- In the drawing which accompanies and forms line in the bottom ofthe mixing chamber and a part of the following specification andthroughcauses its overflow through the nipple 11 back out the severalfigures of which the same charto the reservoir 7. Thus circulation ofgasoacters of reference have been employed to desigline is maintainedand a fresh body of gasoline 1 nate identical parts, is perpetuated inthe mixing chamber.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating a The mixing chamber isprovided between the system in which the carburetting device of my inletand the discharge ends with a series of invention is intercalated;baflies 15 and 16 arranged in alternate relation,

Figure 2 is a vertical section through a carthe baiiies 15 dependingfrom the top wall 16 buretting device; and of the mixing chamber whilethe baffles 16' are Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 33 spacedfrom said top wall as well as from the of Figure 2. bottom of the mixingchamber, being supported Referring now in detail to the several figures,by angles 17 from the side walls 18 and 19 of a supply of air underpressure is maintained in the mixing chamber, best shown in Figure 3.

The lower ends of the bafiies 16' dip below the level of the body ofgasoline in the mixing chamher which level is determined by the heightof the nipple 11. The bafiies 15 terminate at their lower ends a slightdistance above this level. Air is admitted to the space anterior to thefirst of the baflies 15 through a valve controlled branch of the airsupply pipe 5.

In operation, the high velocity imparted to the liquid fuel in the standpipe causes the particles of liquid to separate, permitting the airbubbles which are fairly condensed at their moment of emergence from thenozzle of the venturi, to expand progressively as they approach the topof the stand pipe, presenting ever increasing surfaces to the liquid inthe aerated column, thus enhancing the absorption by the air of thevolatile gasoline. The mixture of gasoline and air issuing from thespout 13 into the space anterior to the first baflie 15, impingesagainst a sheet of wicking 19 with which said battle is furnished on itsforward face, wetting said wicking and enhancing the evaporativeefficiency of this portion of the mixing chamber. The heavier liquidconstituents issuing from said spout drop into the shallow body ofgasoline in the bottom of the mixing chamber agitating it and thoroughlymixing the fresh gasoline with that already in the mixing chamber, alsoinducing a flow of the lower stratum of gasoline beneath the baiiles 17and in the direction of the overflow ll, bringing fresh gasoline intothe space between each of the baffles 16 and thus renewing thevolatility of each. portion of gasoline in the mixing chamber,segregated in their surface portions by the baffles 16.

The bailies 16' which dip into the liquid fuel are also furnished ontheir forward sides with sheet wicking 19 which is continually wetted bycapillarity. Air from the branch pipe 5 ntering the space between thefirst baffle and the adjacent wall of the mixing chamber, dilutes thecarburetted air issuing from the spout l3 and evaporating from the wick19, said air flowing in serpentine manner alternately beneath. thebafiies 15 and above the baffles 16, being forced into a thin filmbeneath each of the baffles 15, in which thin condition it makes contactwith the surface of the body of gasoline in the mixing chamber absorbingvolatile fractions of gasoline from said body of gasoline.

After having been thus passed into proximity to the body of gasoline inthe mixing chamber a plurality of times and having flowed adjacent thegasoline-wet wicking on each of the bafiles 16', the air when it reachesthe ultimate space between the final baffle 15 and the adjacent wall ofthe mixing chamber, is thoroughly carburetted and ready to be burned. Itis led off by a suitable educticn pipe 20 to the appliance in which thecombustible mixture is burned. Adjustment in the richness of the mixtureand in the rate of its carbureticn may be accomplished by manipulationof either or both of the valves or 26.

Figure 1 shows a valve 21 controlling the supplyof compressed air to thecarburetting unit, said valve being actuated by a diaphragm 22 whichunder the normal air pressure when gas is being discharged through theeduction pipe 20 maintains the valve 21 open, but when the valve on thegas-utilizing appliance is cut off so that the out-flow through theeduction pipe ceases, pressure in the diaphragm chamber 23 builds up,pressing the diaphragm up to the broken line position and closing thevalve, thus cutting off the supply of compressed air and producingcessation in the functioning within the carburetting unit.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be apreferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it is to beunderstood that the specific details of construction as illustrated anddescribed are merely by way of example and not tobe construed aslimiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. Gas producer comprising a carburetting device including a tank havingan intermediate substantially horizontal partition, dividing said tankinto a carburetting chamber above said partition and a reservoir forliquid fuel below said partition, an overflow pipe affordingcommunication between said carburetting chamber and said reservoirdetermining a shallow liquid fuel level above said partition in saidcarburetting chamber, a stand pipe affording means of communicationbetween said reservoir below the level of liquid fuel therein and saidcarburetting chamser above the level of liquid fuel therein, an injectorin the lower part of said stand pipe adapted to be supplied with. airunder pressure for discharging an aerated column of liquid fuel intosaid carburetting chamber thus establishing a liquid fuel circulationthrough the lower part of said carburetting chamber and said reservoir,a plurality of baffles in said carburetting chamber, alternating balilesextending from the roof of said chamber to a slight distance above theliquid fuel level in said chamber, and the other set of alternatebaifies being spaced from the roof of said chamber and dipping beneaththe liquid level therein to within a short distance of said partition,an outlet for carburetted mixture at the opposite end of saidcarburetting chamber, said baffies determining a sinuous course for thepassage of air through said carburetting chamber, constricting it to arelatively thin film where it passes beneath alternate bafies intosurface contact with the liquid fuel, the spaced relation of said babiesfrom said partition permitting a subsurface movement of the liquid fuelin said carburetting chamber toward said overflow, avoiding pocketingbetween said baffles of less volatile constituents of said liquid fuelresulting from the absorption of its volatile constituents by thecurrent of air passing along its surface.

2. Gas producer as claimed in claim 1, the

baffle first adjacent the discharge from said stand pipe having a wicksurface facing said stand pipe,

means for admitting air under ressure to the space anterior to the firstbaflie, a valve controlling said air admitting means, and a dischargefor carburetted gas at a point remote from said air admitting means.

3. Gas producer as claimed in claim 1, the baffles which dip in theliquid in said carburetting chamber having wick surfaces on theiranterior faces, maintained wet by capillarity, and that baffle firstadjacent the discharge from said stand a valve controlling said means,and a discharge for carburetted gas at a point remote from said airadmitting means.

JESSE D. THOMAS.

